Melanoma Excision - Manchester, GB

This seems to be a website about cosmetic surgery, which my procedure was most certainly not. I had a malignant melanoma on my shoulder: a potentially fatal condition leading to serious organ cancers if not caught early. When the biopsy results arrived, I was naturally extremely worried, and Gary Ross took the trouble to phone me from his holiday to explain in detail the type and seriousness of the melanoma, what treatment would be involved, and the survival rates for the type I had (relatively good!) After the melanoma itself had been removed and stitches by dermatologist, because of its depth and seriousness, it required an urgent wide excision of surrounding tissue and a skin graft. This was beautifully and sensitively done, with Gary Ross explaining fully all the options and the relative advantages and potential disadvantages of each, which enabled me to make informed choices about my treatment. This was immediately arranged, and done as a day procedure under general anaesthetic 2 working days later. The skin graft was taken from just below the excision site, (see picture) so no other injury site was involved. The stitches were removed after 14 days and there was no infection. Although the site was very sore for a month or so, I never felt ill, I needed no pain relief after the operation, and was able to enjoy mountaineering, kayaking and sea swimming within 6 weeks, with full use of my shoulder.
It is now fully recovered, all cancerous cells have been removed and other than regular ultrasound monitoring of the site and lymph glands, no further treatment is needed. I have an interesting heart-shaped scar which is starting to fade (8 weeks on), and starting to blend well into the surrounding body profile. I feel that I received outstanding treatment from Gary Ross, was fully informed about all the options, my views about the details of treatment were respected, and the result has healed beautifully and looks as good as could be given the essential nature of the surgery.